US2313481A

US2313481A - Electric fan

Info

Publication number: US2313481A
Application number: US391871A
Authority: US
Inventors: Rendano Louis
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1941-05-05
Filing date: 1941-05-05
Publication date: 1943-03-09
Anticipated expiration: 1960-03-09

Description

L. RENDANO ELECTRIC FA March 9, 19

Filed May 5, 1941- 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 0 a va mm m w. m mD MA w% 0 Patented Mar. 9, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC FAN Louis Rendano, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application May 5, 1941, Serial No. 391,871

2 Claims.

This invention relates to new and improved completely rotatable electric fans.

Electric fan as now in common use are of two general types, either stationary, directing the current of air in only one direction, or oscillating through a limited arc and still incapable of directing the air current beyond a limited field.

Certain proposals have been made to provide fans in which the air agitating portion rotates completely about the base of the fan, but the suggested constructions possess the disadvantage that they ar of complicated and uneconomical structure and possess basic difiiculties in maintaining electric contact between the rotating parts. Further these fans lack wide application in that they often do not permit adjustment of the position of the blades from substantially horizontal to some more desired angle.

Modern air conditioning principles show that I general circulation of air throughout a room is far more to be desired than direction of a current of air over a limited area or in one specific direction. It is an object of this invention to provide a fan which will operate in conformity with these principles by providing an improved construction adapted to revolve completely about the vertical axis of the base and thus stimulate general circulation of air rather than causing currents and drafts in a specific direction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fan in which the axis about which the blades rotate may be adjusted from a substantially horizontal position to slanting positions, while maintaining the character of complete revolvability of the fan about the base.

A still further object of the invention is to provide improved electrical contacts between the stationary lower base and the revolving upper portion of the construction.

A still further object is to provide a fan which may be conveniently and simply dismantled or assembled whereby shipment and storage during the winter months when the fan is not in use is facilitated.

For a complete understanding of the present invention reference is made to the accompanying drawings of which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a fan with my improvements applied thereto,

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the top portion of the fan showing the means for oscillating the fan in a substantially vertical direction,

Figure 3 is a section through the line 3-3 of Figure 1 with portions of the base broken away, and

Figure 4 is a section through the line 44 of Figure 1.

Referring now mor particularly to the drawings, a fan is provided having the usual base II provided with a horizontal plate I2 situated on the top portion thereof, which plate may be of any convenient material, but as constructed in my preferred form comprises a non-metallic dielectric material such as Bakelite or similar plastic.

A plate I6 having a downwardly extending flange 2| overlies the plate I2 and is secured to the yoke I I which supports the motor I8 and the fan blades I9 mounted on the revolving shaft 20 driven by the motor I8.

In order to facilitate easy revolution of the plate I6 a central shaft 23 secured to the yoke I1 and passing through a hole in the plate I6 is provided, extending downwardly for a suitable distance into the column I3 of the base II. The lower portion of the shaft 230. is provided with a circumferential groove 24 into which the tip 25 of the screw 22 may be inserted. It will be seen that by turning the knurled head 26 the tip 25 of the screw 22 will be moved into the groove 24 and will prevent the removal of the motor and fan from the base since the shaft 23 cannot be withdrawn. This enables the user to pick the fan up by grasping any convenient por-- tion thereof without fear of the fan dividing in two. However, should it be desired to store the fan in a constricted space, the fan may be taken. apart into two parts very simply by unscrewing the screw 22 until the tip 25 is clear of the groove 24 whereupon the upper plate I6 with the yoke and the motor and fan may be lifted out of the base.

Further to facilitate the revolution of the top portion of the fan about the plate I2 a ball bearing 28 may be provided at the center of the plate I2 upon which the upper portion of the fan will revolve. The washer 29 may be secured to the shaft 23 just below the plate I6 and will ride on the bearing 28 and make for easy and low friction revolution.

Electrical contact between the upper and lower portions of the fan is maintained in a convenient and effective manner as follows: Wires 30 in the base of the fan, which are connected to a source of electric current in the usual manner, are run to spring pressed buttons 3| mounted in the plate I2, which buttons extend above the surface of the plate and are urged in an upward direction by springs 3Ia. As shown particularly in Figure 4 the flanged plate I6 is provided with oted at 40 and 4|.

two phosphor bronze, hard copper alloy or similar

metallic rings

32 and 32a. As seen in Figure 3 the

rings

32 and 32a are in contact with the terminals 33 and 33a which are in turn attached to wires 34 and. 3411 which run to the opposite poles of the motor l8, thus completing the circuit. It will be seen that with the spring pressed contacts 3| exerting pressure against the rings 32 there will be no loss of electrical contact even if the yoke 11 and consequently the plate [6 rocks slightly about the center thereof. Furthermore the provision of the combination of the shaft 23 extending for a substantial distance into the base of the fan and the spring pressed contacts, provide a construction in which it will a be very difficult to break the electrical contact and which will withstand much careless or rough handling without injury. In addition the spring pressed buttons which are preferably situated on opposite sides of the plate I2 provide balance and support for the upper portion of the conabout the axis of the shaft 23 may be reversed by changing the angle of the shaft 20 carrying the fan blades, above or below the horizontal. Should it be desired to stop the revolution of the fan about thevertical axis the screw 22 may be tightened whereby the friction engagement between the tip 25 of the screw 22 and the groove 24 of the shaft 23a will hold the upper construction against revolution with the fan directed in any desired angular position.

In addition it is sometimes desirable to provide for vertical oscillation of the fan motor and blades. This may be provided in a number of ways, but my preferred construction is illustrated in Figures 1, 2, and 3. As previously noted the motor I8 is mounted on the yoke 11, being piv- The end of the shaft 20 remote from the fan blades is also provided with a worm 42 which is geared to cause the revoluso as to hold arm 48 rigidly against the yoke,- the motor l8 will oscillate about an axis defined by pivots4il and 4!.

Should it be desired to operate the fan without vertical oscillation of the motor and blades, the

screw 52 may be loosened, whereupon the arm 48 will oscillate freely and the screw pivot 4| may be tightened to hold the motor and fan blades in stationary position.

tending downward below the level of said member into the base, said fan having a second horizontal circular non-conducting member of slightly larger diameter than said first mentioned member, said second member fitting over said first member and having a downwardly depending flange at its outer periphery, a shaft of a size adapted to fit snugly in said socket and revolve thereon, depending from the lower side of said second circular member. a U-shaped support rigidly secured to the upper side of said second member, said support pivotally mounting a fan motor having a motor shaft and fanblades on said motor shaft, electrical contacts between said members. including annular rings of conductive material on one member and spring pressed contacts on the other extending beyond the surface of the member, said members being held face to face and said contacts being maintained in contact by the weight of the U-shaped frame, motor and blades mounted on said second member and being held in operable relation by insertion :of said shaft in said socket, andsai'd members being separable to divide said fan into two entirely separated portions by lifting said shaft out of said socket.

2. An electric fan having a base, said base terminating in a fiat horizontal circular non conducting member having a hole in the center thereof, a second circular hon-conducting member of slightly greater diameter than the first mentioned portion, a shaft descending from the center thereof adapted to fit in said hole in said first mentioned member, a fiat annular ring of relatively hard material surrounding said shaft and secured to said upper member whereby, when said upper and lower members are placed one over the other with said shaft in said hole, said flat annular ring engages the portion of said lower member immediately surrounding said hole, and a space the thickness of said member remains between said upper and lower members,

electric contacting means including-annular conducting rings on one of said members andspring pressed buttons mounted to extend beyond the surface of the other 'of said :members, and'contacting with the rings at all positions of .said members about the axis-of said shaft, a frame on said upper member pivotally mounting-a motor having a motor shaft, and fan-blades-on said motor shaft.

LOUIS RENDA-NO.